Aliberto Jr.’s carne asada fries. Courtesy photo.
Kemah is now home to the first Texas location of Aliberto’s Jr. Mexican Food, a small San Diego-based chain of fast, friendly taquerías with drive-thru outposts in California and Washington. It’s now open daily in a former Sonic Drive-In space located at 1355 Highway 146. The company has grown a loyal following for offering huge portions, fresh ingredients and affordable prices with favorite menu items including carne asada fries, massive burritos and rolled taco plates. The restaurant is having its grand opening on Saturday, July 5.
The menu at Aliberto’s Jr. includes a dizzying array of tacos, quesadillas, weekend menudo, tostadas, tortas, birria ramen, enchilada plates and breakfast burritos. There are daily specials and nearly two dozen combination plates for hungry patrons all priced at $13.93 or below. The plates come loaded with Mexican rice, refried beans and your pick from a list that includes heaping helpings of steak ranchero, shrimp fajitas, adobada, carnitas, chile relleno and more.
Some of the most popular dishes include the famous carne asada fries — a Mexican-American dish originating in the Chicano community of San Diego consisting of crispy fries topped with grilled, marinated steak, melted cheese, sour cream and guacamole, the California Burrito stuffed to the brim with carne asada, French fries, pico de gallo and shredded cheese, and rolled tacos. The rolled tacos here are small, rolled-up corn tortillas filled with meat and cheese, and then fried with your choice of toppings. In Southern California, the terms “rolled tacos” and “taquitos” are often used interchangeably.
Dessert options include flan, churros, Fry Ice Cream, a fried shell filled with ice cream, and Xangos (Mexican cheesecake chimichangas).
Aliberto’s Jr. is an offshoot of Aliberto’s Real Fresh Mexican Food, a brick-and-mortar Mexican restaurant founded by Roberto De La Torre, who migrated to the United State in 1979. De La Torre spent several years working in the restaurant industry before opening his first restaurant, Aliberto’s, in San Diego. The restaurant, which is open 24/7, is known for fast, friendly service and cheap Mexican food made from fresh ingredients.
As the brand grew in popularity, it expanded to a dozen locations across California, Arizona and New Mexico. (Though both restaurants share a founder with the same first name, Aliberto’s is not related to similar San Diego staple Roberto’s Taco Shop, which debuted decades earlier. There’s an interesting Reddit thread concerning the many similar businesses in the are with similar names.)
Aliberto’s introduced drive-thru service for customers on the go, which led to the creation of the even speedier Aliberto’s Jr. brand in 1989. The “junior” stores — which are smaller locations focused on the drive-thru and takeaway model — quickly became a hit, offering all the convenience of a fast-food joint with the quality and approach of a taquería. It’s satisfying, honest food priced for everyone.
Aliberto’s Jr. Mexican Food is open daily from 7 a.m. to midnight.
Mario-Sebastian Berry is a wine and spirits vendor who has been in the hospitality industry since 2002. Currently, he represents Blanco, Texas-based Andalusia Whiskey Co. He holds numerous wine, beer and spirits certifications including Certified Sommelier. Somehow, he also finds time to be Houston Food Finder’s associate editor and social media manager.
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